Chinese golfer Pan powers her way to victory in Beijing

An in-form Pan Yanhong captured her second victory of the year on Saturday when the former powerlifter closed with a 67 to win the Beijing Challenge by three strokes in the Chinese capital.

The Hebei native, who will be making her US Women's Open debut next month, closed with a round that included five birdies over the front nine of Beijing Orient Pearl Golf Club and an eagle-three at the 14th when her ball landed within two feet of the pin after a blast of her 5-iron from 193 yards out. With heavy rain starting late in her round, she closed with two bogeys for a score of 11-under 205.

Her sixth career win on the China LPGA Tour was worth 75,000 yuan (about 12,500 U.S. dollars).

"I felt pressure and uncomfortable going into the final round because I injured my feet in practice. But I played a great front nine and had a huge lead at the turn," Pan said.

"It began raining at the 15th, but I watched the leaderboard and knew I had a great lead. I didn't want the event to be suspended as it would be a long day. We were in a race to finish. I made a bogey at the last hole, which is a little bit disappointing, but I won. That's most important."

The 32-year-old Pan confirmed that she would be playing in next week' s CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic, a co-sponsored event with the Taiwan LPGA Tour.

"Last year I won twice, and this year I have won two times. I'm not setting any goals for wins. If I play well, any event, three wins, four wins, five wins is achievable."

Kang Hyeon-seo, the overnight co-leader, was runner-up as the South Korean did not record her first birdie until the ninth hole and failed to mount a challenge to Pan on her way to a bogey-free round of two-under 70.

"I've already had five runner-ups. I feel very disappointed that I left this golf course without the trophy in hand," Kang said.

"I tried my best but the putts didn' t sink. A little consolation is that I made an 18-foot par putt at the last hole, which gave me runner-up alone."

Beijing native Shi Yuting (69) was third at four shots back, while Thailand's Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai (68) finished fourth, a shot further back.

Shi, the 17-year-old rookie pro, finished third or equal third for the third tournament in a row after mounting a strong finish in the wet conditions.

"I was happy with three birdies over the final five holes," said the teenager. "But the last hole I had a three-footer for birdie but I missed because it rained. I was in a rush. I didn't want to finish third, always I want to win. The breakthrough win will be next week in Shanghai."

Chinese teenagers Du Mohan (70) and Sui Xiang (72) tied for the top amateur honor at three-under. Endite